Zoe as Nina: For the Glory or the Green?

Actress Zoe Saldana and singer/activist Nina Simone

 

When it was announced that Zoe Saldana would be playing Nina Simone in a biopic, it was obvious that the casting would be problematic. A few days ago, these pictures surfaced of Saldana on set:

 

"Zoe Saldana is black, so why can't she play Nina? Is it because she's Latina?"

 

Saldana's ethnicity isn't why she's the wrong choice for the role, and as soon as the words "she's too light for the role" come out, people are ready to dismiss complaints. Her being a lighter shade of brown than the legendary singer is only the tip of iceberg of why casting directors could have picked someone different. She looks nothing like Nina Simone! The face shape, the nose, the lips--nope, nope, nope.

"It doesn't matter that they don't look exactly alike. That's what movie make-up is for."

No one is asking for someone who looks exactly like her.  How hard would it have been to find an actress who more closely resembles Nina Simone? Someone's whose face wouldn't have had to be covered in plastic and darkened with make-up? Why go with the black actress with the lighter skin tone and less defining features? It's so much deeper than that and people would rather explain it away than see the underlying issue (that definitely plays into the Hollywood trend of "light is right"--in which darker-skinned actresses have to fight harder for roles), which is...well...sad. 

"Well, maybe she was just the superior actress."

For a movie that the Simone's family didn't even authorize, maybe she was (Mary J. Blige was originally cast as lead). This is something often heard to explain mis-matched "colorblind" casting (or whitewashing in general--another topic for another day), and people need to stop using it as an excuse. Especially with so many talented actors of all races and shades running around, going unnoticed because they aren't "IT."

Seeing people actually argue about this was eye-opening to me, and I had to step out of my own head because as a black woman, I've always been exposed to the way colorism affects the community, whether people want to admit it or not.

Backing up to the film being unauthorized by Simone's family, the late singer's daughter had this to say about the casting to Ebony magazine:

"I love Zoe Saldana’s work…As an actress I respect her process, but I also know that there are many actresses out there, known or not, who would be great as my mother. One actress that I’ve had in my heart for a very long time, whose work I’m familiar with already, is Kimberly Elise. Many people have spoken to me about Viola [Davis]. I love her look. I love her energy."

So why didn't Saldana turn down the role instead of joining on the side of people claiming "reverse racism" (*eye roll*) is why people don't want her playing the part?

Is she so eager to play an icon that looks (or the family's wishes) don't matter? Or is it a money thing? She's an A-list actress right now so that's seems unlikely.

 

What do you think about the Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone controversy?

Give Me Back My Tailypo

Photo credit: Sayo24

I can’t say I’m particularly fond of being scared. I enjoy scary movies, but you will not get me into a haunted house. Do you know how long it took me to ride the Haunted Mansion at Disney? Scratch that. Do you know how long it took me get over riding the now-defunct Snow White’s Scary Adventures when I was six?

Books that fall into the horror genre aren’t really my thing. Never have been. The illustrations on Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark were enough to put me off for life. But there was a time when I decided to give them a try. Maybe if I read one, I’d find that “Hey! These aren’t so bad!”

I was in elementary school when I read this:

 

Do you see the cover of this book? Do you see how misleading this is?

The story: A hunter and his three dogs are in the woods...hunting, when he sees this weird cat-like creature with big glowing eyes and a long tail, and does the only logical thing: shoots it. Screaming, the animal runs away, leaving behind its blown-off tail that the hunter picks up, cooks, and eats for dinner.

That night, there's a rustling in his cabin in the middle of the woods, and the creature shows up at the foot of his bed, asking for its “Tailypo.” To get the thing to go away, the hunter has his dogs chase it away. Every time he does this, one dog doesn’t return. Still, he thinks it’s a good idea to send the dogs until they’re all gone. Dude.

Then it’s just the man and his gun. With only a few hours until sunrise (the Tailypo only shows up at night when it’s hard to see), he plans to make a run for it, but we all know the creepy dog-sized feline-beast is going to return. We know this! And it does, asking for its tailypo again. "Taily-po, Taily-po...all I want is my Taily-po..." At this point, the hunter knows he’s screwed. You know he’s screwed. And I’m rocking myself back and forth in a corner, crying.

In the end, the creature attacks the man. According to Wikipedia, most stories say he was flayed beyond recognition, but “less violent” tellings say all that remained of the cabin the next morning is the chimney. As someone with an extremely vivid imagination, both of those endings are equally jarring.

I thought I was in for some “scary” story that would make a spin at the end into a happy compromise for both parties. I was going to work my way into the more frightening stuff. Oh, how wrong I was...

Classic case of judging a book by its cover.

What are some of your favorite (or not-so-favorite) scary stories?

Watch This!: Motorcity

Photo credit: Black Dragon

 

As if you couldn't tell from our premiere post on Cartoon Network, we love animation! I was turned on to Motorcity a few weeks ago by my friend Kirstin, whose art will be on display in this post. 



Mike Chilton

Created by Chris Prynoski (Metalocalypse, Daria), Motorcity is an original cartoon on Disney XD. In the distant future, Detroit, Michigan has become a city of the past and a junkyard underground with fast cars and thrills galore, existing below the sleek and pristine Detroit Deluxe. Deluxe's owner has made it his main goal in life to take over the thriving ruins, but a group of rebels (called Burners), led by one of his ex-cadets, is there to protect it.

 


Chuck and Claire

Though there's a definite 3D element, the art style is nestled in clean, yet gritty 2D with hard lines and bold colors, very fitting for a show that seems to be a futuristic Fast and the Furious.

Voice talent includes Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker!) as antagonist Abraham Kane, Reid Scott (My Boys) as ex-cadet Mike Chilton, and Kel Mitchell of Nickelodeon fame; Kate Micucci (Raising Hope); Nate Torrence (She's Out of My League); and Jess Harnell (Remember Animaniacs? Wakko Warner!) as the rest of the Burners.

Old Detroit is considerably darker than Detroit Deluxe, but the two cities are what-and-what on the danger scale. While more apparent underground with gangs looking for their own power and revenge, broken down buildings, and questionable organic food; the threats on top are KaneCo's machines--some giant, some not-so-giant. Viewers are kept pumped up with revving engines, fast-paced music, exciting plotlines, and lots of screaming...from Chuck.

Motorcity is the kind of show I would have made a point to watch after school in lieu of just before doing my homework, and is enjoyable by all ages. Especially if you're into car chases, races for pink slips, and daredevil jumps that take a turbo boost just to barely make it across.

New episodes of Disney XD's Motorcity come back on October 19.

Mike, Chuck and Julie

Healthy and Fit Week: Fit Picks!

We are on a constant mission around here to keep strong, healthy, and fit. We have a take no prisoners attitude in the fight against feeling sluggish, weak, and outright lame. So we introduce to you in no particular order our top ten weapons that help us keep up the battle. Tell us what you like to use and do to keep focused and maintain your health and fitness goals because we'd love to hear from you!

1. Sports Bras They keep your boobs happy and this is an important thing because they don't like flailing around during a workout regardless of how big or small they are; besides, it hurts. Plus, a properly fitted sports bra can help reduce strain on your back and neck. -C

2. Medicine Balls If you ever need a break from the hand weights, medicine balls are the way to go. Reminiscent of kick balls from the playground (please don't kick these, though, you might regret it), they're great for weight training with a little more of a challenge. Exercising with a partner? Grab a medicine ball and check out these suggestions from LiveStrong for two-person workouts. -B

3. Neoprene Free Weights I like neoprene ones because they are cushiony so they are gentle on my hands and they come in pretty colors. (Pretty colors are always important) With other weights sometimes I get calluses but not with neoprene ones! -C

4. Water It took a long time for me to enjoy drinking water which is something I personally found to be a strange quirk. However, when you're thirsty, especially after a hard workout, nothing quenches it quite like water. My new motto for drinking water is "Water or Die!" and surprisingly it's enough to help me get down a few more ounces. -C

5. Spinach When it comes to leafy veggies, the greener the better. No wonder Popeye was such a huge fan! Spinach is a low-calorie food that can be used in a multitude of ways: salad, omelets, muffins, smoothies, and more! It's also an excellent source of iron. Because spinach can be high on pesticides, eat it organic if possible. -B

6. Running Shoes Self-explanatory, really. Unless you're doing yoga or another workout that doesn't require shoes, you may want to grab a pair to prevent an easily avoidable injury. Trust me. Been there, done that. -B

7. Bananas Potassium rich foods like bananas help prevent cramps so they are a necessity for me since I get them quite easily if I'm not careful. Potatoes and raisins have twice as much potassium per serving than bananas so they can be good options too, but a banana is easier to grab plus it has less sugar and carbohydrates. I usually try to have one after an especially hard work out. -C

8. Energy Bar Technically, they're best eaten before or during exercise for an energy boost, especially for high endurance workouts. However, don't feel like that's the only time performance energy bars can be consumed. With a variety of flavors, including chocolate peanut butter, apple cinnamon, and wild berry; they're awesome for refueling after an intense workout, too! -B

9. Epsom Salt When your muscles ache and the soreness and tiredness won't go away a soak in an epsom salt bath is the prescription. When I ran track, did gymnastics, and danced on the regular I counted on these baths to help soothe my tender muscles and it worked every time. The salt helps reduce inflammation and can help improve circulation plus so much more. Read about all its benefits here at the Epsom Salt Council. Yes, there is one. There's a council for everything. -C

10. Yoga Mats Yoga mats aren't just for yoga! (Or nap time!) They help with stability during workouts, which is extremely beneficial when you need to focus more on keeping your muscles tight and engaged, and less on keeping yourself from sliding and falling over. Yoga mats also prevent rug burn while working out on carpet. It happens. -B

How 'Bout Them Apples?

An apple a day keeps the...well, you know the rest, and probably other variations of it, too.

Growing up, I wasn't so fond of apples. Oranges, bananas, blackberries, strawberries, plums, lemons, anything but an apple. Unless they were served with caramel or cooked in cinnamon and sugar, that is. So I was a little slow on the uptake as far as the benefits of apples outside of the general understanding that apples = healthy. And I was happy with my alternatives.
 

Eventually, I began munching on the fruit, but was very picky about it. (No red apples!) But once I made the decision to change my eating habits, I worked them in more. As a cookie monster, this video kind of put things into perspective:

But apples are great for so many other things, too! This article from Best Health lays it all out, but I'll post a quick list here:

 

 

15 Health Benefits of Eating Apples

1. Get whiter, healthier teeth
2. Avoid Alzheimer’s
3. Protect against Parkinson’s
4. Curb all sorts of cancers
5. Decrease your risk of diabetes
6. Reduce cholesterol
7. Get a healthier heart
8. Prevent gallstones
9. Beat diarrhea and constipation
10. Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome
11. Avert hemorrhoids
12. Control your weight
13. Detoxify your liver
14. Boost your immune system
15. Prevent cataracts

I'm still pretty picky about them, however, Granny Smith apples are my favorite. Princess apples are good, too! Gala? Not so much. Check out the article to get the details on the list, and why not have an apple while you read?

Photo credit: Inquisitr

Through the 30-Day Shredder

Last summer, I did Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, needing a jump start in my workout routine. I'd been going to the gym and doing my own thing for a while, but hit a wall and started feeling discouraged. I wasn't sure about workout DVDs, despite the days of my youth spent doing the exercises on my mom's Taebo and aerobics VHS tapes. Essentially the same thing, right? Back then I was just bored. This hesitation stemmed from knowing I wasn't just playing around anymore. I wanted actual results.

 



Military press with leg extension

Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred is a month-long workout system with three levels of three circuits--Strength, Cardio, Abs. It's heavy on squats, lunges, and jumping (plyometrics); so if you've got bad knees, modify the exercises so you don't hurt yourself. The first time I did it, I had been more worried about my ankles, but by the end was surprised to find my knees needed a break!

 

You will sweat, you will be uncomfortable, you might even feel like a loser--I could have sworn my balance was a lot better until I almost tipped over doing pendulum lunges--but you'll feel great afterwards without losing too much time out of your day! (Each workout is only around twenty minutes long.)

 

I suggest using three pound weights during the workout. Five is fine (I use them), but it does make some of the moves more challenging for a first-timer since you'll typically run through each move twice. Also, a yoga mat might be handy if you want to avoid sliding too much or rug burn on your elbows, but that might have been my inexperience showing.

 

Alternating punches

The 30 Day Shred is good for a temporary change in your workout regime, but I wouldn't use it to replace other exercise. Changing it up is always good. Do it for thirty days and then move on. Revisit it later if you want, but try some other DVDs, run, bike, or hit the gym before you do. Don't forget to be mindful of the food you're eating, too! Working out won't do nearly as much if you're not eating reasonably. I don't diet, but I do watch what I eat. That doesn't mean I don't cheat, I'm a sugar fiend, but I try not to be excessive.

The first time around, I lost a few inches all over. I don't weigh myself, but I do take my measurements, choosing to gauge my weight loss on the way my clothes fit rather than a number on a scale.

 

Here's the deal:

I'm starting the 30 Day Shred again today. I've been doing it on and off the past month or so, just to get in a workout, but it's time for me to get back to it the right way to once again jump start my regular exercise routine. On November 12, I will post another picture in the same outfit so you can see the results.

 

If you've ever done one of Jillian's 30 Day workout systems, why not leave a comment below letting us know how you liked it?

 

--

 

Check it! I have a Fitblr (Tumblr + Fitness), that you can see here: Blissful & Curvy. It's encouraging healthy weight loss methods and there are some workouts and nutrition tips I've reblogged from other lovely folks. It's still fairly new, but every so often, I'll post my progress, too.

 

Happy Healthy & Fit Week!

October Book of the Month - Journals

 

The October 2012 Book of the Month is one you have to fill!

For as long as we've been friends (and earlier), Claire and I have kept journals. Over thirteen years of life experiences and feelings sporadically recorded for various reasons--not wanting to forget, emotional release, bursts of creativity, all of the above and then some.

 

The earliest journal I still have in my possession is from 1998. Its only entries are in the summer and early fall, but it's unsurprisingly full of preteen woes, crushes, and boy band obsession. Looking back is always a little weird. You're reading the voice of a greener version of yourself that you might not even recognize, skimming over things you've overcome, and reading about the struggles. At times, it's extremely cringe-inducing, but in a way, also endearing.

 

This month, we encourage you to start a journal and try to keep it for at least thirty days or see if you still have any old ones stowed away and comb through them to see how far you've come. Maybe you'll decide to kill it with fire after that or maybe you won't. Either way, it's sure to be rewarding.

Why Quinn?

 



 

Quinn (Katie Lowes), Harrison (Columbus Short),
 and Olivia (Kerry Washington)

After Scandal's seven-episode first season (That was only seven episodes?), the wait for season two couldn't seem any longer. Compelling characters and story arcs had me glued to my seat where ever I watched—I may have taken over a bedroom TV or two. I regret nothing. It's obvious from the start that Quinn isn't like the others. She's void of the tough exterior, and the next few episodes are spent wondering what's going to trigger her going complete animal on someone because Olivia wouldn't have brought the vulnerable young woman on without there being some dark cloud in her past. But don't hold your breath. You're left guessing. (And still trying to get past her pulling the scissors from Gideon's neck.)






Katie Lowes

In the days leading to the season two premiere, @ScandalABC teased, "Who's Quinn Perkins?" Fans of the show made last minute guesses: Is she President Grant's long-lost daughter? Is she Cyrus' long-lost daughter? Is she anyone's long-lost daughter? Who is she?! Breathe.

We did find out Quinn's identity...in the general sense. The season premiere keeps the pace set in its first run, and gives us a decent chunk of her backstory. It's not until the dust settles after the trial, jail visits, surveillance videos, and Fitz serving Mellie a verbal smack-down that we realize we don't know jack with the curveball thrown in the last few minutes--no, seconds.

So! Not only do we still not really know Quinn Perkins...we're left in the dark on what Olivia is hiding, too, just like the other gladiators.

I don't think I'll ever recover from the scissor incident, but at least now I'm a little  more invested in her character, if for nothing other than finding out what makes her precious cargo.

Photo credit: SpoilerTV

The Imaginary World of Craig McCracken

Not too long ago, this poster was floating around the internet:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, it isn’t real.

The closest you’ll get to a new Powerpuff Girls episode is tuning in to Boomerang or catching a rerun on Cartoon Network’s Cartoon Planet and saying a little prayer that it’s an episode you’ve never seen before (but you and I both know we’ve seen them all). Also amnesia, but those effects may not be worth it.

Craig McCracken. Animator, writer, producer, heartbreaker (we get it, it had to be done). This is a guy who loves his cartoons and has built a solid reputation in the world of animation over the years. He’s created shorts as well as worked as art director for 2 Stupid Dogs and Dexter’s Laboratory, but what he’s probably most known for is Emmy award-winning The Powerpuff Girls and Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends.

The Supergirls

Accidentally created with sugar, spice, everything nice, and that pesky Chemical X, the miniature triad of superheroes took the world by storm in the late 1990s, early 2000s—exceeding the expectations of the Pennsylvania-born cartoonist-creator. Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup defended the troubled city of Townsville for seven years on Cartoon Network, and McCracken brought them back three years after their original run for a tenth anniversary special entitled "The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!!" in 2008.

Saying Goodbye to the Friends

The decision to end of Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends was completely understandable, but that doesn’t make it any less heartbreaking. McCracken and crew were starting to run low on ideas, so instead of letting the show fall on its face from television exhaustion, they ended the series while it was still on a high note. Smart decision? Yes. Knife in my heart? Yes. Dramatic, much? Yes. Thank goodness for DVDs! (And reruns!)

McCracken has since left Cartoon Network with a couple of awards under his belt, and is currently working on Wander Over Yonder for Disney Channel, reuniting with Foster’s voice actors Keith Ferguson (Bloo) and Tom Kenny (Eduardo). The plot: "Wander is an overly-optimistic intergalactic traveler who, along with his loyal but bullish steed, Sylvia, goes from planet to planet helping people to live free and have fun, all against the evil reign of Lord Hater and his army of Watchdogs." The animation style is familiar to those who know McCracken’s work, and a trailer debuted at San Diego Comic-Con this past summer.

Wander Over Yonder is set to make its debut in 2013.

Happy Birthday Cartoon Network!

Today, Cartoon Network is celebrating its 20th anniversary! From now-playing shows like Regular Show and The Amazing World of Gumball to those gone by the wayside (Johnny Bravo, Samurai Jack), that’s twenty years of slack-jawed viewers mesmerized by, arguably, some of the silliest (But clever!) animated programming on TV.

We’d like to take a moment to highlight some CN cartoons past and present. After the jump you'll see a list of a few shows we felt we had to mention alongside some incredible fan art found from across the web!